Treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Umbilical Cord Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Stem cell research is our passion, and helping patients is our mission at Cellebration Wellness. Join thousands of patients worldwide who trust Cellebration Wellness for their stem cell therapy needs.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is considered to be the most common type of lupus that patients in the United States and across the world suffer from. This condition is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system wrongly attacks healthy tissue. The most common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever. Having this condition can be incredibly exhausting and is usually life-altering for those who get diagnosed with it.

Systemic lupus erythematosus can affect any part of the body. However, the most common areas of the body that are impacted include the blood cells, kidneys, joints, skin, and brain.

Although the exact cause of this disease is not known, there are certain risk factors that may increase a person’s chance of developing the disease. These generally include genetics, viral infections, and environmental triggers, such as sunlight or stress.

The severity of this condition can range from mild to life-threatening. It is important that patients have treatment for this disorder, which can include medical treatment, preventative care, and various educational resources. Unfortunately, this disease impacts the lives of millions of people in the United States and across the globe.

How Many People Have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Reports provided by the Lupus Foundation of America show that approximately 1.5 million people in the United States suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus. On a global scale, this number is believed to be around 5 million people who have been diagnosed with some form of lupus.

Although the majority of patients who are diagnosed with this condition are women of childbearing age, there are many instances where teenagers, children, and even men are diagnosed with lupus. Approximately 90% of all patients who have been diagnosed with the condition are women between 15 and 44 years of age.

What are the Symptoms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

It is incredibly important to understand that no two cases of lupus are identical. The signs and symptoms that patients experience may come on suddenly or develop more slowly. The symptoms can also be mild for some people and severe for others. They can also be temporary or permanent in nature.

People who suffer from a mild form of lupus may experience various flares. Flare is a term that is used to describe episodes when the signs and symptoms can worsen and then improve, or even completely disappear with time.

There are various symptoms that patients who suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus can experience. However, the particular symptoms that a person does experience will be determined by the area of the body that is affected by the disease. Some of the most commonly reported symptoms patients experience include:

Pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints
Fatigue
Chest pains
Dry eyes
Shortness of breath
Fever
A butterfly-shaped rash on the face
Headaches
Memory loss
Confusion
Skin lesions that may worsen due to exposure to the sun

There are instances where environmental factors contribute to patients experiencing symptoms of the disease. Some common triggers for SLE include:

Sunlight: When patients are exposed to sunlight, it can trigger an internal response or skin lesions.
Infections: When a patient suffers from any type of infection, it can cause the disease to develop or create a relapse in people who have already been diagnosed with the condition.
Medications: There are various types of medications that can actually trigger lupus in These can include some forms of antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and even seizure medications. Drug-induced lupus typically gets better once patients stop taking the medications.

The symptoms patients experience from SLE can be incredibly debilitating. Although there is no cure for this disease, patients do have various treatment options when it comes to helping to alleviate some of the symptoms that they experience.

What Treatment Options are Available for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Patients who suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus are generally prescribed various types of medication to help alleviate the signs and symptoms that they experience for the disease. Common medications that patients receive include:

Biologics: These medications are often prescribed to patients intravenously in order to alleviate the symptoms that they experience.
Immunosuppressant medications: These drugs are typically prescribed to patients in an effort to suppress the immune system and help patients with severe cases of lupus alleviate some of the symptoms they experience from the disease.
Corticosteroids: This type of medication is designed to counter the inflammation associated with lupus. Patients can also be prescribed high doses of steroids to control serious diseases involving the brain and kidneys.
Antimalarial drugs: Medications that are often used to treat patients who suffer from malaria have been proven effective in treating patients who suffer from SLE. These medications are effective when it comes to decreasing the risks associated with lupus flares and the impact that they have on the immune system.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Doctors routinely prescribe ibuprofen, Aleve, and various other over-the-counter NSAID medications to patients in order to help reduce the swelling, fever, and pain associated with the disease.

Unfortunately, none of these treatment options will provide permanent relief for patients who suffer from this condition. However, recently there have been studies concerning the use of umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal stem cells to treat systemic lupus erythematosus. The results from these studies have been promising.

What are Umbilical Cord Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells?

Umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal stem cells (UCT-MSCs) are a type of adult stem cell that can be obtained from Wharton’s jelly cells within the umbilical cord. UC-MSCs have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types. These include adipocytes, myocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes.

Additionally, UC-MSCs have been shown to possess immunomodulatory properties, which makes them attractive candidates for use in cellular therapy for various autoimmune and degenerative disorders. Currently, UC-MSCs are being investigated for their potential use in treating a variety of diseases and conditions, including system lupus erythematosus.

Over the past few years, we have seen several studies surrounding the use of the umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal stem cells to treat systemic lupus erythematosus. The results from these studies are promising when it comes to creating a new form of treatment for people who suffer from this condition.

Studies About the Use of UCT-MSCs for Treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Several studies have occurred to find out more about the effectiveness of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to treat test models suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus.

In 2010, a group of scientists published a research paper about the benefits of using umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal stem cells to treat people who suffer from autoimmune diseases, including lupus. The study found that the transplantation of UC-MSCs effectively helped treat systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms in the recipients. The study found that there was a significant reduction in the parameters that were observed in the mice that had been injected with the stem cell treatment. The use of umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal stem cells was effective in decreasing the levels of 24 – H proteinuria, anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody, and serum creatinine in the recipients. It further decreased the extent of injury to the kidneys in the recipients.

At a one-week follow-up, scientists were able to locate carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) labeled UC-MSCs in the kidneys and lungs of the subjects. After 11 weeks, they further located human cells in the kidneys of the treated mice. These findings positively indicate that the transplantation of umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal stem cells can provide a potentially promising treatment for people who suffer from this debilitating condition.

Another study published in 2021 found that UCT-MSCs help to improve the symptoms associated with lupus by increasing the senescence of CD4+ T cells.

A multicenter clinical study surrounding the use of UC-MSCs was published in 2014 that also showed promising results. This study surrounded a total of 40 patients who suffer from active systemic lupus erythematosus. Multiple patients were infused intravenously with allergenic umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal sound cells on days 0 and 7.

At the conclusion of the study, a total of 37 of the 40 patients were observed. The patient had no adverse events as a result of the transplantations. Of the total patients, 13 of them achieved a major clinical response. 11 of the 40 patients experienced partial clinical response. At nine months, three patients experienced a relapse in their disease. At a 12-month follow-up, 4 patients experienced a relapse and disease.

The study found that the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores significantly decreased at the three, six, nine, and 12-month follow-ups. At the three-month follow-up, the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) score decreased and continued to decrease at all subsequent visits. The cutaneous, renal, and hematopoietic systems all improved significantly. The urea nitrogen and serum creatinine decreased to the lowest level at six months.

Umbilical cord tissue mesenchymal stem cells therapy looks as though it could potentially be an effective treatment option for systemic lupus erythematosus. The promising results from preclinical and clinical studies suggest that UC-MSC can modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation, suggesting beneficial effects in treating SLE patients.

Take the first step toward a healthier future. Contact Cellebration Wellness at 1.800.601.8290 to learn how stem cell therapy can benefit you.